Issuu

Advancing Excellence

Showing the Way to God

Engineering For a Higher Purpose

Graduate programs are extending Fairfield’s academic excellence to working professionals across disciplines.

Spiritual directors gathered for a national conference in June to strengthen the call to accompany others toward God.

A service-immersion trip to Costa Rica challenged Fairfield students to use their engineering skills to make a lasting impact.

Fairfieldmagazine UNIVERSITY

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Inner Workings

Research team brings the hidden structures of the inner ear into view.

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The Month of Painted Leaves Photo by Joe Adams

Autumn casts the Fairfield Main Campus in its most brilliant light. On the cover: Kaitlyn Robles-Patterson ’27 and professor of biology Christopher Smith, PhD, spent the summer researching the delicate structures of the inner ear. Photo by Joe Adams

Fairfield University Magazine Fairfield University Fall 2026 | Volume 49 | Number 2 a.m.d.g. Editor, Jeannine (Carolan) Graf ’87, MFA’25 Managing Editor, Jackie Bertolone Assistant Editor, Kiersten Bjork ’21 Vice President for Marketing and Communications, Jennifer Anderson ’97, MBA’02 Designer, Nancy (Gelston) Dobos ’91 Magazine Photographer, Joe Adams Photography by: Joe Adams: 4, 8, 16, 25, 27-28 Joe Buglewicz: 3, 12-13, 23-24, 26, 28-29 Indi DelRocco: 11, 14-15 Ana Estrada: 2, 18-21 Graypeak Images: 23 Jack Kinney ’25: 10 Kristie Kistner: 38-39 Cassidy Kristiansen: 2, 12-13, 24-25 Cory Pontarollo: 11 Jean-François Savaria: 36 Patrick Sikes: 38-39 John Stark: 10 Casey Timmeny: 6 Vatican Media: 5 Debbie Whalley: 5 Contributed: 6-9, 20, 31, 33-35, 37, 40 Fairfield University Magazine is published four times (December, March, June, September) during the year by Fairfield University. Editorial offices are located in: Fairfield University 1720 Post Road, Fairfield CT 06824 (203) 254-4000 Email: magazine@fairfield.edu Printed at Allied Printing Services Manchester, Connecticut ii

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Contents

— M arcy H aley , Associate Director of the Murphy Center

Engineering For a Higher Purpose

Showing the Way to God by J ean n i n e (C aro lan ) G raf ’87, M FA’25

A service-immersion trip to Costa Rica challenged Fairfield students to use their engineering skills to build, solve problems, and make a lasting impact.

Spiritual directors gathered for a national conference at Fairfield University in June to reflect on their shared ministry, gain new perspectives, and strengthen the call to accompany others toward God.

Ten mechanical, biomedical, and electrical engineering students from the School of Engineering and Computing traveled to San José, Costa Rica, with Ana Estrada, PhD, for a week of engineering projects in service of others.

The first-of-its-kind gathering of Ignatian spiritual directors from around the country and abroad reminded the 170 participants that although much of their ministry takes place one-on-one, they are part of a far-reaching community of practitioners.

Pictured above: Philip Storti ’28, Isabella Dawes ’27, and Maeve McGlynn ’28 paint building materials at Proyecto Bethany, Tres Ríos, Cartago.

Pictured above: Rev. Denis Donoghue, S.J., director of the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality, and his team hosted the weekend conference.

by K i e r ste n B j o r k ’21

“The enthusiasm for this gathering reflects our commitment to share the Spiritual Exercises with others.”

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l e t t e r f ro m t h e p r e s i d e n t u n ive rs ity n ews at h l e t i c s

Evolving Excellence by D rew K i ng s ley ’07

Laura Field has built a culture of sustained success by helping Fairfield Women’s Lacrosse reinvent itself season after season.

COVER STORY

aca d e m i c s

Inner Workings b y S ara C olab e lla ’08, MA’11, E d D’26

26 Advancing Excellence by B rad T homas

Distinctive graduate programs are extending Fairfield’s tradition of academic excellence to working professionals, researchers, and leaders across a wide range of disciplines. Fairfield has expanded its portfolio of master’s and doctoral programs to 50 current offerings and has emerged as a premier destination for graduate research, leadership development, and professional growth.

Using advanced imaging and the skills of an artist, a faculty-student research team brings the hidden structures of the inner ear into view.

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g rants & g i fts a l um n i n ot e s

P rof i le s : 33 Fran Reed ’86, P’23 Rooted in Stag Country 35 Ilene Bosch MA’89 Finishing What She Started

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a rt s & m i n d s r e u n i o n 2026 d o n o r p ro f i l e

Donald and Karen Wilson P’26 Finding Their Fairfield

Pictured above: The number of advanced degrees conferred annually by Fairfield University has increased 69 percent over the past decade.

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Letter From the President “ We have long believed that education is about more than the acquisition of knowledge; it is about helping students discern who they are, who they are called to become, and how their gifts can be used in service to others.”

Send your letters to the editor of Fairfield University Magazine to Jeannine Graf at jeannine.graf@fairfield.edu. Your news could be featured in an upcoming issue of Fairfield University Magazine! Submit your updates through Class Notes within the Online Community and don’t forget to include a photo! Go to fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity.

Dear Friends, As we begin the academic year, there is an unmistakable energy as new students arrive and our community comes together for learning and discovery. We are reminded every fall that each incoming class brings fresh perspectives, new questions, and extraordinary promise. This summer, I joined fellow presidents from the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in Rome for an audience with the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, as well as meetings with the Very Rev. Arturo Sosa, S.J., Superior General of the Society of Jesus, and others in the Vatican and the Curia. It was a remarkable and humbling experience that reaffirmed our shared belief in the work of Jesuit, Catholic higher education and its critical importance. The Holy Father focused his remarks on the pursuit of truth, the formation of young people, and the responsibility of our institutions to cultivate hope through inquiry, dialogue, service, and faith. His message wasn’t a call to do something different, but rather a confirmation of the work already underway: helping students prepare not only for meaningful careers, but for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. At Fairfield, this understanding shapes everything we do. We have long believed that education is about more than the acquisition of knowledge; it is about helping students discern who they are, who they are called to become, and how their gifts can be used in service to others. That commitment is borne out in the success of our graduates. Fairfield was recently ranked No. 27 in the nation on LinkedIn’s list of 2026 Top Colleges for Long-Term Career Success and No. 9 nationally for job placement, which recognizes the percentage of graduates

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who begin a job or enroll in graduate school within the same year they earn their degree. It is with this shared sense of purpose and confidence in Fairfield’s future that we look ahead to the important work before us. There is a collective belief in the trajectory of this University, and together, blessed with certainty in our mission and strength in our operating position, we continue to build on Fairfield’s remarkable trajectory and turn our sights to the long term, imagining Fairfield University upon its 100th anniversary in 2042. Our momentum is visible across our campus. This fall, we welcomed sophomores into the new E. Gerald Corrigan Residence Hall, a thoughtful repurposing of the former Center for Financial Studies that, when I arrived, housed our Dolan School of Business. In the spring, students will move into newly built graduate housing at One Post Road. As we open the new Outdoor Dining Pavilion, we are preparing to break ground on Innovation Hall, which will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary teaching, learning, and discovery. These projects represent far more than an investment in facilities; they are investments in our students, our community, and the future of Fairfield University. Building upon our work and reflecting upon our time this summer, we approach this fall with ever greater optimism. My conversations with Jesuit colleagues from across the globe reflected a quiet confidence that our higher education institutions are well-equipped to meet this moment. As we return to campus, I remain deeply grateful for the Fairfield community. Together, we continue the important work entrusted to us: pursuing truth, forming leaders of character, and preparing the next generation as they discern who they are called to become. With utmost gratitude and very best wishes,

Mark R. Nemec, PhD President

Universit y NEWS WHY THE LIBERAL ARTS MATTER IN AN AI-DRIVEN ECONOMY

Papal Audience PRESIDENT NEMEC AND FR. O’BRIEN ATTEND AJCU DELEGATION MEETING WITH POPE LEO XIV

n June 25, President Mark R. Nemec, PhD, and Rev. Kevin O’Brien, S.J., joined a delegation of university presidents and senior leaders from the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) for a private audience with Pope Leo XIV. The gathering included prayer, individual greetings, and a reflection in which the Holy Father called on those in attendance to continue forming students with wisdom, hope, and commitment to the common good. “We were grateful for the opportunity to be in that room among colleagues who are engaged in the same mission to educate young people,” said Dr. Nemec. “It’s a purpose that we’ve dedicated our lives to and that the Church does so well.” lF

above : The papal audience was one of several meetings that took place during a pilgrimage in Rome coordinated by

the AJCU in partnership with the AJCU Board of Directors.

At the final Presidential Colloquium of the spring semester, academic and business leaders explored the future of work, technology, and economic growth in Connecticut. As the panel addressed topics from demographics to manufacturing and global trade, one message was clear: in an age of artificial intelligence, the humanities and the liberal arts are not optional; they are foundational. Tom Murray, PhD, associate professor in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, described how AI is already changing teaching and learning at Fairfield. Not long ago, he said, many conversations focused on keeping AI out of the classroom. Now the discussion centers on how to bring AI in thoughtfully. AI may help students organize information, but liberal arts skills—close reading, critical thinking, and sustained writing—remain essential.

AI SHOWCASE INSPIRES DISCOURSE ON TEACHING, LEARNING, AND RESEARCH Toward the conclusion of the spring 2026 semester, faculty members from across Fairfield University’s five schools gathered in the Barone Campus Center to share the innovative and intellectually rigorous ways they’ve thought about, discussed with students, and implemented coursework made possible by emerging technologies over the past year. F a i r f i e l d U n i v e r s i t y M a g a z i n e | fa l l 202 6 5

TWO FAIRFIELD STUDENTS AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIPS Two Fairfield University undergraduates, Emily AlfonsoOlmos ’27 and Ethan Chow ’27, have been named recipients of the highly competitive Barry Goldwater Scholarship, an award for undergraduate students pursuing research careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Alfonso-Olmos, a student in Fairfield’s School of Engineering and Computing, is majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in mathematics. She conducts research on laser-based optical flow diagnostic systems under the mentorship of David Shekhtman, PhD, assistant professor of mechanical engineering. Chow is an Honors Program student in the John Charles Meditz College of Arts and Sciences. A physics major with a minor in mathematics, he conducts research on extreme precipitation under the mentorship of Rob Nazarian, PhD, associate professor of physics and founding director of the Center for Climate, Coastal, and Marine Studies.

2026 ALPHA SIGMA NU TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARDS The Fairfield chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu, the honor society of Jesuit colleges and universities, recognized Naser Haghbin, PhD, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and Julie Marella, instructor of the practice of marketing, with this year’s undergraduate and graduate Teacher of the Year awards. Adjunct faculty members George Bauer of the School of Engineering and Computing and Jaclyn Lindsey-Noble of the Charles F. Dolan School of Business were honored with 2026 Excellence in Teaching Awards.

Award Season FACULTY AND STUDENTS EARN FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIPS

airfield University faculty members Michelle Leigh Farrell, PhD, and Shannon Harding, PhD, along with undergraduate Caroline Cossman ’26 and graduate student Eva Criscuolo, have received Fulbright honors for the 2026–27 academic year. The Fulbright program supports postgraduate study, research, Caroline Cossman ’26 work, or teaching abroad. Dr. Farrell, a professor of Spanish in the John Charles Meditz College of Arts and Sciences, will guest lecture at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and continue her research on Cuban filmmakers in diaspora and videographic pedagogies. Dr. Harding, a Fairfield Meditz professor of psychological and brain sciences, will partner with the University of Galway on Eva Criscuolo graduate education and research related to adolescent social isolation. Cossman, a politics major, will undertake an English teaching assistantship in Cyprus. Criscuolo, a secondary education graduate student, will serve as an English teaching assistant in Serbia.lF

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Universit y NEWS FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY RANKED NO. 3 NATIONALLY AMONG TOP ALLERGY-FRIENDLY COLLEGES According to 2024 findings from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, “3 in 10 U.S. adults and children reported having a seasonal allergy, eczema, or food allergy.” For first-year students, the responsibility of food allergies or dietary restrictions shifts from family settings to campus dining, making trust in food safety at college more important than ever. Fairfield University’s Dining OnCampus, operated in partnership with Aramark under Stags Hospitality, has made food safety and allergen awareness a top priority. Those efforts have paid off in a significant way. After being added to Spokin Verified Colleges in 2025—a leading food allergy resource and advocacy platform—Fairfield University has jumped in a single year from No. 39 to No. 3 in Spokin’s Top 100 AllergyF Friendly Colleges 2026. l

In addition to its commitment to food allergy safety, Fairfield’s culinary team has earned eight national and regional culinary awards over the past three years.

FAIRFIELD RANKS NO. 27 ON LINKEDIN’S 2026 TOP COLLEGES LIST, NO. 9 NATIONALLY FOR JOB PLACEMENT Fairfield University has moved up a spot to No. 27 on LinkedIn’s Top Colleges 2026 list and has also earned a No. 9 national ranking for job placement, which recognizes the institutions with the highest percentage of graduates who begin a job or enroll in graduate school within the same year they earn their degree. The annual LinkedIn rankings evaluate colleges and universities

based on graduates’ long-term career success, measuring outcomes such as job placement, career progression, internship opportunities, alumni network strength, and leadership potential. The rankings are based on aggregated data from LinkedIn’s professional network and include accredited, four-year colleges and F universities across the United States. l

Senior nursing majors developed an interactive map of EpiPen and AED locations on campus.

NURSING MAJORS CREATE INTERACTIVE MAP FOR PUBLIC SAFETY APPLICATION To ensure rapid access to epinephrine autoinjectors (EpiPens) and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on campus, senior nursing majors in the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies developed an interactive map pinpointing the locations of emergency devices, using geospatial data to provide instant walking directions to on-campus AEDs and EpiPens. Partnering with the Department of Public Safety (DPS), the students then integrated the information into LiveSafe, the University’s mobile safety application. EpiPens and AEDs are user-friendly medical devices that treat life-threatening allergic reactions and cardiac arrhythmias, respectively. At Fairfield, they are conveniently and strategically located in areas of activity and elevated risk and are easily identified via highvisibility signage.

NEW RESIDENCE HALL NAMED FOR E. GERALD CORRIGAN With the naming of its newest residence hall, Fairfield University honors the late E. Gerald Corrigan ’63, PhD, an alumnus and Trustee Emeritus, for his generous philanthropy and enduring ties to Fairfield and Jesuit higher education. Corrigan Hall opened to students this fall, offering a vibrant space for socializing, studying, and hosting community programming. F a i r f i e l d U n i v e r s i t y M a g a z i n e | fa l l 2026 7

FAIRFIELD BELLARMINE VOLUNTEERS HELP REMOVE 1,500 POUNDS OF TRASH FROM BRIDGEPORT’S EAST END On a Saturday morning in April, volunteers donned work gloves and spread out across the streets, sidewalks, and vacant lots of Bridgeport’s East End neighborhood with trash bags and pickup tools in hand. By the end of the cleanup, the group had collected more than 95 bags of trash totaling approximately 1,500 pounds. Fairfield Bellarmine students and staff worked alongside faculty, local residents, nonprofit leaders, clergy, and elected officials to remove tires, broken furniture, mattresses, car parts, and other debris from community spaces across the neighborhood. The cleanup was organized through the partnership of Fairfield Bellarmine, Fairfield University’s Center for Social Impact, Blessed Sacrament Church, the East End Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ), and Building Bridgeport From Within, a nonprofit led by East End resident and community leader Al Ramirez.

In Remembrance KEVIN’S AFTERGLOW AWARDS $100,000 TO DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BRAIN SCIENCES

he John Charles Meditz College of Arts and Sciences received a transformative $100,000 gift from James and Kristen Kuczo of Kevin’s Afterglow to establish the Kevin Kuczo Memorial Fund. Honoring Kevin’s life and memory, the endowment will support an annual student award as well as faculty and student research in mental health. Kevin Kuczo was a Fairfield student who struggled with depression during the Covid-19 pandemic and died in February 2021. This past May, psychology and behavioral neuroscience faculty members gathered to remember Kevin and recognize the Kuczos’ generosity and the opportunities the gift will create for undergraduate research, experiential learning, and academic programming focused on mental health. lF

above : James and Kristen Kuczo presented Fairfield Meditz Dean Richard Greenwald, PhD, and faculty members with

a gift to establish the Kevin Kuczo Memorial Fund in honor of their son.

EGAN ALUMNI RECOGNIZED FOR COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE

An artist with the Bridgeport Arts and Culture Council painted a mural on a roadway barrier during the East End Community Cleanup.

Adrian Garza ’26 received a Student Leadership Award from the Mu Chi Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing for his volunteer work with the Community Action Corporation of South Texas and with a local educational outreach program.

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For her commitment to camper health and safety at Camp Woodstock and for embodying the YMCA’s core values, Elizabeth Thibault ’26 was recognized by the YMCA of Greater Hartford with its inaugural Mission Impact Staff Award.

Universit y NEWS WEALTH MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM HONORS MATTHEW N. PAPILLO ’00 Arax Investment Partners has partnered with Fairfield University to establish an internship program for Fairfield students in memory of Matthew N. Papillo ’00, who died in Sept. 2025. The Matthew Papillo Wealth Management Internship Program was created to honor Papillo’s legacy of mentorship, leadership, and dedication to supporting the development of young professionals entering the industry. The program welcomed its inaugural intern, Will Kelley ’27, this summer. “It’s a great honor to be the first intern in

this program, especially considering the significant presence Matthew had in the Arax office,” Kelley said. Matthew Papillo ’00 was a kind and loving husband and father of three children, Nicholas, Christopher, and Mary Anne. “We are honored that Matthew’s employer is collaborating with Fairfield University to create the internship in Matthew’s name,” his wife Carrie Johnson-Papillo ’00 said. “Fairfield is a F special place to us.” l below: Carrie (Johnson) and Matthew Papillo ’00

visited Fairfield with their three children for the Alumni Easter Egg Hunt in April 2025.

Fairfield Dolan faculty and students visited alumni at the global investment banking firm Jefferies in London.

DOLAN STUDENTS CONNECT WITH ALUMNI IN LONDON Students in Fairfield Dolan’s “Global Capital Markets” course flew to London in May to experience the overseas financial industry firsthand. A visit to Jefferies served as the centerpiece of the trip. There, current and former Jefferies employees—all Fairfield alumni—gave a presentation on the rise of private credit and participated in a panel discussion and Q&A session with students. “Their [the alumni’s] dedication, commitment to our students, and . professionalism was exceptional. We are very thankful for the time and expertise they shared with us,” said Valeria Martinez, associate professor of finance. Participating alumni included Tom Brady ’88, president and chief executive officer of Jefferies Finance, Tom Muoio ’85, Thomas Graziano ’92, Kevin Del Mauro ’08, and Matthew Vincequerra ’98.

TWO STUDENT VENTURES WIN TOP HONORS AT 2026 STARTUP SHOWCASE Presented by the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, the 2026 StartUp Showcase featured three teams in the scalable category and three in the bootstrap category, competing for $50,000 in seed funding. Two studentled ventures, Leave It to Us (bootstrap) and EviSyna (scalable), emerged as winners. The panel of judges included Michael Garvey ’89, P’30,’25,’23; Mariana Antaya ’23; Mary Dobson ’07, MA’10; Chris Hillock ’00, P’30; Robert W. Liptak, P’27; and Eric Seidman.

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JOHN ODIERNA NAMED HEAD COACH OF MEN’S LACROSSE Following a comprehensive nationwide search, John Odierna has been named head coach of the Fairfield University Men’s Lacrosse program. Most recently the defensive coordinator at Syracuse, Odierna comes to Fairfield on the heels of back-to-back Final Four appearances with the Orange. “We are thrilled to welcome John Odierna as the head coach of Fairfield University Men’s Lacrosse. Coach Odierna’s aspirational vision for the future of our program is compelling and resonated with the search committee throughout our in-depth process,” said Vice President for Athletics Paul Schlickmann. “His abiding belief in the game as a vehicle to provide a best-inclass experience for our Stags studentathletes aligns with our commitment to their holistic development as a means to achieve competitive excellence.” In Odierna’s three seasons at Syracuse, the Orange posted a 38-18 overall record. Working alongside Head Coach Gary Gait, Odierna helped lead Syracuse to the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2024 followed by NCAA Final Four trips in 2025 and 2026. The Orange also won the 2025 ACC Tournament Championship.

John Odierna is the fifth head coach in the NCAA Division I varsity history of Fairfield Men’s Lacrosse, which dates back to the 1993 season.

CAA Bound FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY TO JOIN COASTAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION BEGINNING IN 2027-28

airfield University has accepted an invitation to join the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) as a full member of the conference beginning on July 1, 2027. The Stags will become the 14th full-membership institution in the CAA. The move to CAA will represent the first time in Fairfield Athletics history that every NCAA-sponsored varsity program will compete under the same conference banner. The Stags will bring 17 varsity programs to the CAA from the Metro Conference. Fairfield Men’s Lacrosse has been an associate member of the CAA since 2015 and Field Hockey begins its first campaign in the CAA in 2026. Fairfield Men’s Rowing—a varsity program not sponsored by the NCAA—will continue as a part of the Intercollegiate Rowing Association. Fairfield will remain a full member of the Metro Conference for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year. The Stags remain eligible for the Metro postseason in all sports, including the ability to earn the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. Fairfield cannot host Metro Conference postseason competition in 2026-27. lF

above : Fairfield Field Hockey joins the CAA this fall after back-to-back NEC Championships and an NCAA

tournament appearance in 2025.

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Universit y NEWS Full basketball schedules are available at fairfieldstags.com. Season tickets are on sale now at fairfieldstags.com/tix.

FAIRFIELD WINS THIRD CONSECUTIVE MAAC COMMISSIONER’S CUP, FIFTH STRAIGHT WOMEN’S COMMISSIONER’S CUP For the third consecutive season, Fairfield University Athletics has won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Richard J. Ensor, Esq. Commissioner’s Cup. The Stags also claimed the MAAC Commissioner’s Cup for Women’s Sports for the fifth straight academic year. The Richard J. Ensor, Esq. MAAC Commissioner’s Cup is awarded annually as a symbol of overall excellence in athletics in the 23 championships conducted within the MAAC. Only the scores from men’s and women’s basketball, plus the top six men’s and top six women’s scores are used to determine an institution’s total points.

Fairfield won 2025-26 season MAAC Tournament Championships in volleyball, women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming & diving, and women’s lacrosse. The Stags also bolstered their Commissioner’s Cup total as the MAAC Regular Season Champions in women’s soccer, volleyball, women’s basketball, and F women’s lacrosse. l below: University President Mark. R. Nemec, PhD,

Senior Assoc. Athletics Director Alison Sexton, Metro Conference Commissioner Travis Tellitocci, and VP for Athletics Paul Schlickmann pose with the 2025-26 Commissioner’s Cup.

FAIRFIELD BASKETBALL ANNOUNCES 32 HOME GAMES FOR 2026-27 SEASON The Fairfield University Men’s and Women’s Basketball Programs will play a total of 32 home games at Leo D. Mahoney Arena in the upcoming 2026-27 season. Men’s Head Coach Chris Casey and his team will open their 17-game home schedule with an exhibition against Fordham on Saturday, Oct. 24, as a part of Alumni & Family Weekend. The regular season home slate begins on Thursday, Nov. 5, against Vermont and also includes contests with Navy and CCSU as a part of the second annual Mahoney Classic over Thanksgiving Weekend. The three-time reigning MAAC Women’s Basketball Champion Stags will take the court at Mahoney Arena for the first time on Wednesday, Oct. 21 in an exhibition game against local foe New Haven. Women’s Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis and her squad will play a total of 14 home outings, including visits from Binghamton, Vermont, Villanova, and Howard.

MATTHEW BUCCIERO ’26 HEADING TO CHICAGO WHITE SOX On July 12, Fairfield University baseball standout Matthew Bucciero ’26 was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 10th round of the 2026 MLB Amateur Draft. Bucciero is the 22nd Stag ever selected in the draft and the third to be picked in the top-10 rounds. “It’s a dream come true,” Bucciero said. “I’m really excited for what the future has in store. I’m extremely grateful to the White Sox for giving me an opportunity and can’t wait to get after it.” F a i r f i e l d U n i v e r s i t y M a g a z i n e | fa l l 2026 11

FAIRFIELD BELLARMINE CEREMONY: MAY 14 AT THE LEO D. MAHONEY ARENA The Fairfield Bellarmine Commencement address was delivered by Pulitzer Prizewinning historian, author, and educator Marcia Chatelain, PhD, who received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Fairfield University in recognition of her contributions to scholarship, education, and public discourse. Drawing from conversations with civil rights organizers and Jesuit educators, she spoke about the importance of resilience, humanity, and compassion in a challenging world. “The opposite of joy is not sadness or depression,” she told graduates. “The opposite of joy is contempt.” Fairfield Bellarmine continues to advance the University’s mission of expanding access to Jesuit, Catholic higher education and creating pathways for student success. The associate’s degree program has demonstrated strong student success outcomes and graduation rates significantly above statewide three-year community college graduation rates. To view a livestream recording of Fairfield University’s Fairfield Bellarmine Commencement, visit fairfield.edu/ bellarmine/commencement.

Commencement 2026 THREE DAYS OF CEREMONIES HIGHLIGHTED ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, LEADERSHIP, AND SERVICE

airfield University celebrated its 76th Commencement Exercises in May, honoring the nearly 2,000 graduates who earned associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees across the University’s academic programs. Highlights of the three ceremonies included conferral of Fairfield University’s first Doctor of Business Administration degrees. lF

above : Members of the Fairfield Bellarmine Class of 2026 received associate’s degrees on May 14. below from left: Fairfield Bellarmine Commencement Speaker Marcia Chatelain, PhD, received an honorary Doctor

of Laws degree; Graduate Commencement Speaker Maggie Doyne received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree; Undergraduate Commencement Speaker Stuart Weitzman received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

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Universit y NEWS

CLASS OF 2026 STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Fairfield Bellarmine Romero Award Roshaun Johnson AS’26 Mim Rahman AA’26 St. Ignatius Loyola Medal undergraduate Giovanna Kalin ’26 graduate Lauren Beach ’25, MSN’26

GRADUATE CEREMONY: MAY 16 AT THE LEO D. MAHONEY ARENA Recognizing advanced degree recipients from the University’s five schools, the graduate Commencement ceremony included the conferral of degrees to the inaugural cohort of Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) candidates in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. The graduate Commencement address was delivered by Maggie Doyne, global humanitarian, social entrepreneur, and co-founder and chief executive officer of the BlinkNow Foundation. The BlinkNow Foundation is a non-profit that supports children and families in Nepal through education, health care, women’s programs, sustainable farming initiatives, and job creation. Doyne received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Fairfield University in recognition of her commitment to education, her compassion, and her sustainable community leadership. Recounting the setbacks and uncertainty that shaped her life’s path, Doyne encouraged graduates to embrace failure and perseverance.

“You’ll notice that the rejections and the missteps and the failures often become the moments that lead to the greatest accomplishments of your life,” she said. In one of the ceremony’s more personal moments, Doyne, who never attended college, reflected on the personal significance of receiving an honorary Fairfield degree: “I’m so, so proud to be able to say I’m a graduate of Fairfield University.” For the livestream recording of the graduate ceremony, visit the graduate page of the fairfield.edu/ commencement website.

UNDERGRADUATE CEREMONY: MAY 17 ON BELLARMINE LAWN The Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, delivered the invocation at the undergraduate Commencement ceremony. The Commencement address was delivered by internationally acclaimed footwear designer and entrepreneur Stuart Weitzman, who received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree for his contributions to innovation, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and

Graduate Service Award Marianna Kalin ’25, MBA’26 Kramer Award Christopher (Tripp) Lyons ’26 Student Achievement Awards Kevin Camy ’26 Luke Davidson ’26 Maryam Gharmal ’26 Courtney Sabogal ’26

ethical leadership. Mary Frances Malone, PhD, received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during the ceremony, in recognition of her decades of leadership and service to Fairfield University. Dr. Malone served as associate academic vice president from 1993 to 2018. Student speaker Tristan DeCrescenzo ’26 reflected on the experiences and relationships that shaped their undergraduate journey, urging his classmates to carry Fairfield’s Jesuit principles into the future because they “challenge us to grow by moving us out of our comfort zone—to serve the community and the greater glory of God.” In his remarks, University President Mark R. Nemec, PhD, emphasized Fairfield’s mission to prepare students for lives of leadership and service. “Never forget,” he implored the graduates, “the world needs what you do. Fairfield is blessed to have an approach—a commitment to being a values-based, student-centric, outcomes-focused institution—which calls us to be a model for others.” For the livestream recording of Fairfield University’s 76th Commencement undergraduate ceremony, visit the undergraduate page of the fairfield. edu/commencement website. left: (l-r): Kevin Camy ’26, Quinn Evans ’26, and Peyton Falk ’26 offer “Stags Up!” to all Class of 2026 graduates.

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Evolving Excellence Laura Field has built a culture of sustained success by helping Fairfield Women’s Lacrosse reinvent itself season after season. by D rew K i ng s ley ’07

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i n e strai g ht MAAC

Championship Games. Seven MAAC titles in eight seasons. Eight consecutive NCAA Tournament berths. For nearly a decade, the Fairfield University Women’s Lacrosse program has been a constant in the annual battle for a conference crown, emerging victorious far more often than not to represent the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference on the national postseason stage. But for Head Coach Laura Field—architect of the Stags’ unprecedented stretch of success— the program’s consistency has been about reinvention, not repetition. “It’s a misconception that if you have success year after year, there is a formula to get there,” said Coach Field, a three-time MAAC Coach of the Year. “The biggest thing that we’ve recognized as a program is that the way to sustain success is to evolve and be adaptable.” Only once in Coach Field’s 11-year tenure as head coach has Fairfield had the same leading scorer in backto-back seasons, and the Stags have graduated at least one All-MAAC First Team performer at the conclusion of each of those 11 campaigns. At different points over the past decade, the Stags have ranked among the nation’s top 10 in scoring offense or scoring defense, while other Fairfield teams have reached the NCAA Tournament without leading the MAAC in either category. All of this is testament to the incredible talent and dedication of the student-athletes who take the field at Rafferty Stadium each season, and to the yearly reinvention of the team as a whole— to see All-MAAC, All-Region, and All-America performers come and go while maintaining the program’s standard of excellence. “We are very proud of our history, and we love to celebrate our success and our alumnae, but the current team is not last year’s team,” said Coach Field. “Once we are all on campus in September, we don’t talk about the past; we put away our rings and championship T-shirts. The only things we bring with us year-to-year are our expectations and our experience.” That experience has carried the Stags

left: The 2026 Stags celebrate their fourth

consecutive MAAC Regular Season Championship.

“The biggest thing we’ve recognized as a program is that the way to sustain success is to evolve and be adaptable.”

defeated the top two teams that weekend to hoist the conference trophy. They then pushed No. 4 Syracuse to the brink before falling 1211 in one of the most thrilling first-round games of that year’s NCAA tournament.

Lau ra Fi e ld, Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach

(l-r): Director of Sports Medicine Mark Ayotte; Asst. Coach Caroline Mangan ’22, M’23; Asst. Coach Kelly Horning ’21, M’22; and Head Coach Laura Field with the MAAC Championship trophy.

annually from an arduous non-conference schedule through the two-month grind of league play and the high stakes of MAAC Championship Weekend. I n 2022, a d own year by th e p ro g ram ’ s own lofty standards, Fairfield lost three consecutive MAAC games for the first time in nearly two decades and entered the postseason as the fourth seed. The Stags needed a quarterfinal victory just to reach Championship Weekend, then traveled to Siena for the MAAC semifinals rather than hosting it at Rafferty Stadium. “We walked into the hotel and one of our seniors, Caroline Mangan ’22 [now an assistant coach], looked at me and said, ‘Don’t worry. We’ve been here before,’” Coach Field recalled. “That’s something you can’t manufacture. That level of leadership and experience from your upperclassmen needs to be earned before it can be passed on.” Cast in the unfamiliar role of underdog, the Stags

P e rhaps th e most acclai m e d F ai rfi e ld women’s lacrosse team was also the only one in the past eight years that didn’t win a MAAC Championship. The 2024 Stags earned the first two wins over nationally ranked opponents in program history, defeating No. 24 UConn and No. 23 UAlbany in consecutive February outings. They earned their own national ranking for the first time in 15 years and rolled into MAAC Championship Weekend as the overwhelming favorite, carrying a 16-1 record and a No. 22 ranking into the title game against Niagara—a team they had defeated 14-7 just six weeks earlier. After a back-and-forth championship game, it was the Purple Eagles who celebrated at Rafferty Stadium while the Stags saw their annual path to the NCAA Tournament thrown into doubt. But Fairfield’s lone blip on an otherwise remarkable season résumé was not enough to sway the national committee. On Selection Sunday, the Stags received the first at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament in program history. “To lose the MAAC in 2024 and still talk about that year as the best season we’ve had is fitting, because that’s what being a nationally ranked team is,” Coach Field said. “You’re going to take losses along the way, but your body of work is still strong enough to have earned that respect from your peers. The atlarge bid is when we felt like we had arrived at where we want to be.” “Where we want to be” is a moving target for Fairfield Women’s Lacrosse. And after eight consecutive seasons of NCAA trips—all concluding with an opening round loss—the next benchmark for the Stags is clear. “There are successes along the way, but there’s one main goal. We want to win that first-round game and advance in the NCAA Tournament,” said Coach Field. “We don’t take for granted anything we’ve accomplished, but there’s always that next step. And we’re going to reinvent and evolve and put in the work until we get there. And F then we’ll see what’s next.” l

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Inner Workings

Using advanced imaging and the skills of an artist, a faculty-student research team brings the hidden structures of the inner ear into view.

by S ara C olab e lla ’08, MA’11, E d D’26

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eep

with i n

th e

human skull, tucked inside a space the size of a Tic Tac, is a complex system that allows us to hear, maintain our balance, and navigate the world around us. Despite centuries of study and advances in medical imaging, scientists know little about the delicate structures hidden within the inner ear. Christopher Smith, PhD, assistant professor of biology at the John Charles Meditz College of Arts and Sciences, is working to change that. An evolutionary anatomist with a background in medical illustration, Dr. Smith uses advanced imaging techniques, three-dimensional modeling, and comparative anatomy to investigate how hearing and balance systems evolved, how they function, and how subtle variations in their anatomy may contribute to disorders such as vertigo and hearing loss. “It’s an incredible area of the body,” Dr. Smith said. “These structures are central to how we experience the world, how we orient ourselves in space, how we move, and how we hear.” Over the summer, undergraduate researcher Kaitlyn Robles-Patterson ’27 assisted Dr. Smith in reconstructing previously unseen anatomical structures within the inner ear. “We looked at the inner ear anatomy of primates and compared it to human anatomy,” said Robles-Patterson, “to better understand how anatomy may relate to locomotion, sensitivity, and behavior.” The project focused on gibbons, a group of small apes known for their distinctive vocalizations and remarkable agility in the forest canopy. “One of the things that Katie’s project did was to dig into these gibbon scans that we have, reconstructing not only more of the bony morphology, but the membranes inside that can help us better understand the anatomy,” said Dr. Smith. clockwise from top left: Student researchers in

Dr. Christopher Smith’s lab use CT scans to model the inner ear of a gibbon; Jaclyn Cusa ’27 at the microscope; During their summer research, Kaitlyn RoblesPatterson ’27 and Dr. Smith used advanced imaging to reconstruct tissue structures inside the inner ear.

“We know a tremendous amount about the cellular and genetic levels of the ear, but there is still a black box when it comes to understanding the overall anatomy of these membranous structures.” C h ri stop h e r S m ith , P h D Assistant Professor of Biology

D r . S m ith ’ s path to re s earch b egan i n the art studio. As an undergraduate studying exercise science, he initially envisioned a career in athletic training or physical therapy. But he also had a lifelong passion for drawing and painting. Looking for a way to unite his interests in art and anatomy, he enrolled in the medical and biological illustration master’s program at Johns Hopkins University. “Art was the gateway into science for me,” Dr. Smith said. “If it wasn’t for my experience in art, I probably would not have pursued research.” Today, his artistic training remains central to his work. Many of the structures Dr. Smith studies are too small to visualize fully even using the most advanced medical imaging technologies. Researchers can readily image bone, but many of the soft tissues within the inner ear remain elusive. “We know a tremendous amount about the cellular and genetic levels of the ear,” Dr. Smith explained, “but there is still a black box when it comes to understanding the overall anatomy of these membranous structures.” Drawing on the observational and visualization skills he developed as an artist, Dr. Smith creates detailed three-dimensional reconstructions using high-resolution CT scans and digital modeling techniques. These visualizations reveal anatomy that would otherwise be inaccessible, enabling researchers to ask new questions about how inner ear

structures function and how they evolved. One area of his research examines whether variations in inner ear anatomy contribute to disorders such as vertigo and Meniere’s disease. Though millions of people experience balance-related disorders, the anatomical factors behind those conditions are not well-known. “There are certain structures that we simply have not been able to visualize well enough to fully understand their role in disease,” Dr. Smith said. A n ot h e r a r e a o f D r . S m i t h ’ s wo r k examines how sensory systems have evolved throughout human and primate history. By studying both living species and fossil remains, he hopes to shed light on how hearing and balance systems developed alongside larger brains, altered skull shapes, and the evolution of upright walking. His research is helping address a longstanding challenge in evolutionary biology: understanding soft tissues that no longer exist. Currently, fossil-related studies rely on preserved bone. Dr. Smith and his collaborators are developing methods to reconstruct the soft tissue anatomy to provide a more complete picture of how extinct species experienced their environments. “All we usually have is the hard tissue,” said Dr. Smith. “The challenge is figuring out what the soft tissues looked like and how they functioned.” To enhance his research with humans and primates, he is also building a collection of whale specimens to study how hearing and balance systems evolved in aquatic mammals. “Many whale species are highly intelligent, highly social mammals, similar to humans, but they evolved in completely different environments,” he said. “That makes them fascinating comparative models.” For Dr. Smith, mentoring students is one of the most rewarding aspects of his work. His lab is centered on student research with four to five students working alongside him each semester. “When I was an undergraduate, I had no idea research like this existed,” he said. “Being able to expose students to these opportunities and show them different paths F into science is really exciting.” l

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ENGINEERING FOR A HIGHER PURPOSE A SERVICE-IMMERSION TRIP TO COSTA RICA CHALLENGED FAIRFIELD STUDENTS TO USE THEIR ENGINEERING SKILLS TO BUILD, SOLVE PROBLEMS, AND MAKE A LASTING IMPACT. by K i e rste n B jork ’21

andmade wooden mugs, local coffee beans, chocolates— these were the physical mementos of a week of service, growth, and community, tucked into the suitcases of Fairfield undergraduates returning home from a life-changing Spring Break experience. Ten mechanical, biomedical, and electrical engineering students from Fairfield’s School of Engineering and Computing journeyed to San José, Costa Rica, on a service-immersion trip. Among them was Caroline Gardner ’28, a biomedical engineering major with a minor in humanitarian action. As president of Fairfield’s Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Club, Gardner had been looking for an experience that would lean into cultural immersion, build on the momentum of the growing EWB Club, and provide a way for engineers at Fairfield to give back. “I think it is especially important for engineers at Fairfield to have the opportunity to apply some of our skills through service, particularly with our Jesuit mission,” Gardner said.

left: Project foreman Eliel Sanchez, Brandon Marzan ’28, and Philip Storti ’28 on site at Proyecto Bethany, Tres Ríos, Cartago. above from top: The church that

engineering students and Dr. Estrada helped build. Evelyn Faber ’28 and Chloe Vouvakis ’28 break ground at Proyecto Bethany.

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The group of excited, albeit nervous, engineers departed for Costa Rica knowing that they would be volunteering on a construction site—they’d specifically chosen the trip and destination because it offered hands-on engineering project work—but they had no idea the actual tasks or scope of work they might be assigned. Although a few had experience with basic construction, most were simply ready to get their hands dirty and to help others.

he days began around 6:30 a.m. in the home of the host family where students stayed. The mother of the family prepared a traditional Costa Rican breakfast each morning, usually rice, a protein, fruit, coffee, and juice, before the group boarded a bus to the worksite. Volunteering alongside local staff, students contributed to construction projects on the campus of Proyecto Bethany, an organization that provides housing, childcare, and community resources to single mothers pursuing an education. They helped install drainage systems, painted church siding, carried roofing materials, and completed a concrete wall that had remained unfinished for two years. Ana Estrada, PhD, assistant professor of electrical and biomedical engineering, joined the trip as a faculty mentor. Dr. Estrada grew up in Costa Rica and was a natural fit to lead students from both an engineering standpoint and as a guide through local culture and language. “There is a very small team of permanent workers employed with the Proyecto Bethany organization, so a lot of the construction has to be volunteer-based,” said Dr. Estrada. The partially built concrete wall around the perimeter of the property had, for years, stood as a reminder of the limited volunteer labor available to finish it. “One of the most meaningful things we experienced there,” she said, “was being able to help them complete that project.” Students were eager to put their engineering skills to the test when tasked with the challenge of lifting heavy construction materials to the top of the wall. Working with only the resources on hand, they devised a mechanism that allowed them to leverage the pieces back and forth until they reached their destination. In the process, they avoided

having to lift the full weight of each piece. “The students just wanted to keep working and keep helping—I actually had to force them to take breaks,” Dr. Estrada recalled. “They were so motivated to get this work done, especially as they were seeing the direct impact of what they were doing on the surrounding people and community.” Gardner witnessed that same enthusiasm throughout the trip. One of her biggest takeaways, she said, was how eager students were to return to the worksite each morning. “There are a lot of crises going on in the world, and there’s a feeling—especially among my peers in humanitarian action—of hopelessness or helplessness that’s got a lot of people down,” she said. “Yet, when students were given the chance to help others, to push themselves to exhaustion for somebody else’s sake, they jumped on that opportunity. They

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were happy to do so, days on end. That was my biggest inspiration, that everyone was so willing to put up with something that wasn’t comfortable, in order to help somebody else.”

heir Costa Rican immersion wasn’t all work and no play. While there, students sampled local cuisine, shopped in San José’s city market, and explored cultural and natural landmarks, including Irazú Volcano, where many saw volcanic black sand for the first time, and the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles (Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels), one of Costa Rica’s most important pilgrimage sites. “Everyone was very kind,” Gardner said. “The people and country are very welcoming. From the tour guide who showed us around the crater of the volcano to the site teams and

“AS THE TRIP WENT ON, THEY STARTED TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR WORK, KNOWING THAT THEY WERE MAKING A REAL IMPACT, AND I THINK THAT GAVE THEM A LOT OF PURPOSE.” A na E strada , P h D Assistant Professor of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering

host family, they were so happy to have us there and to share their home with us.” For these future engineers, the immersive, hands-on trip reinforced the connection between engineering and service, inspiring them to seek out new ways to make a difference, both abroad and at home. “What made me really proud to see was how motivated the students were to help,” said Dr. Estrada. “As the trip went on, they started to take ownership of their work, knowing that they were making a real impact, and I think that gave them a lot of purpose. At the end, we had a debrief and they were more motivated about everything, from engineering to just wanting to get more involved.” That, noted School of Engineering and Computing Dean Andres Leonardo Carrano, PhD, is exactly what Fairfield’s engineering

programs strive to cultivate. “The EWB Club perfectly embodies our Jesuit principles of accompaniment, service to others, and the promotion of social justice,” he said. “Led by Dr. Estrada, these talented students exemplified and lived our school maxim of ‘Engineering for a Higher Purpose.’” Gardner and her fellow EWB Club members are already looking into trips for next year, as they actively seek connections with other EWB clubs across the country. “This trip really changed my perspective of what it’s like to help in a community, in a neighborhood,” she said. “Proyecto Bethany enlarged our understanding of how fulfilling it is to contribute in some small way. Each of us walked away with a renewed hunger to keep doing this work, and to bring it back to F campus.” l

opposite page clockwise from top left:

Philip Storti ’28, Alexander White ’25, MS’26, and Patrick Breeden ’27 move building materials on site at Proyecto Bethany. View of the historic hospital Sanatorio Durán, in Potrero Cerrado. L-R: (front) Caroline Gardner ’28, Evelyn Faber ’28, Chloe Vouvakis ’28, Dr. Estrada; (middle) Alexander White ’25, MS’26, Philip Storti ’28, Armando Hernandez ’29, Isabella Dawes ’27, Brandon Marzan ’28; (back) Patrick Breeden ’27, and Maeve McGlynn ’28 pose for a group photo. above from left: Maeve McGlynn ’28,

Isabella Dawes ’27, Caroline Gardner ’28, and Philip Storti ’28 paint at Proyecto Bethany. A resident animal at Proyecto Bethany, Tres Ríos, Cartago.

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Showing the Way to

GOD

opposite page top: Erin Cline, PhD,

and Rev. Kevin O’Brien, S.J., shown here at the welcome reception, copresented on offering the Exercises to people of non-Christian faiths.

middle : Sr. Joan McCarthy, CSJ,

spoke of “the many faces of God” in her keynote address. bottom : (l) Fr. Brian McDermott’s

lecture offered an example of how the Exercises can be adapted to confront societal issues. (r) Damian Zynda, PhD, reflected on the reciprocal transformation that occurs when accompanying others through the Spiritual Exercises.

RATITUDE lies at the heart of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola—a series of guided prayers, meditations, and reflections developed by St. Ignatius to help people deepen their relationship with God and discern how they are called to live. This practice of recognizing God’s gifts and responding to them in love and service set the tone for the 170 spiritual directors who traveled from Canada, Italy, 27 states, and the District of Columbia for the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality’s weekend conference, Showing the Way to God, in June.

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“We come from Jesuit Universities, secondary schools, spirituality centers, and parishes,” noted Marcy Haley, associate director of the Murphy Center, in her welcome remarks. “The enthusiasm for this gathering reflects our commitment to share the Spiritual Exercises with others. Through prayer, reflection, imagination, discernment, silence, and honest self-examination, the Exercises invite a person or people into deeper intimacy with God. How blessed are we to bear witness to this creative and awesome grace.” In her opening keynote address, Sr. Joan McCarthy, CSJ, who, since 1973, has led hundreds of 30-day retreats across Canada,

the U.S., and the U.K., noted that ministering the Exercises requires far more than professional competence. “The director constantly weaves together attentive listening, psychological insight, familiarity with scripture, theological grounding, and the discernment of spirits,” she said. “Diffused through all of this is sacred mystery.” Sr. McCarthy encouraged her fellow spiritual directors to not only contemplate their retreatants’ words and expressions, but to also be attentive to “the many faces of God” being revealed during the Exercises.

LLUMINATION, in the Ignatian tradition, is a prayerful request for God to shine light on the events of the day, enabling us to look truthfully upon our encounters and how we responded. A Sunday celebration of Mass at Egan Chapel with the Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, began a day rich in content and community. Ali Famiglietti ’14, MA’21, a sound practitioner and intuitive guide, led an Ignatian sound bath meditation using quartz crystal singing bowls. Workshop sessions presented ways that spiritual directors might improve, modify, or innovate how they guide directees. Topics ranged from reflecting on major themes of the Exercises through famous works of art to sharing the Exercises in Hispanic communities and in high school, parish, and group settings. Rev. John Dardis, S.J., general counsellor for discernment and apostolic planning to the Very Rev. Arturo Sosa, S.J., superior general of the Society of Jesus, traveled from Rome to attend the conference. Fr. Dardis framed his reflection around three words—liberation, passion, and imagination—that capture what the Spiritual Exercises can offer the world today. In an age when ideologies and cultural forces can constrain human freedom, distort desire, and narrow our sense of possibility, he presented the Exercises as a way of recovering a fuller, more authentically human life. “Surely it’s all about liberation,” Fr. Dardis said, quoting a psychologist friend. “Becoming more human like Jesus, the authentic human person.” F a i r f i e l d U n i v e r s i t y M a g a z i n e | fa l l 202 6 23

One conference participant summed up the graces of the day as follows: “We’re here doing what Christ and Ignatius and Pope Francis taught us to do, which is to have encounters and be curious, knowing that to see the light of God in another person is to see the face of God.”

“My hope is that attendees carried home with them these questions: How do we, as a community, keep inviting people not only into the Exercises, but to become spiritual directors? How do we keep our community unfolding, moving forward?” R ev . D e n i s D ono g hu e , S.J. Director of the Murphy Center

XAMINATION, or a deliberate recollection of the day’s events, is how St. Ignatius encourages us to notice significant moments in which our relationships with God, others, and ourselves become clearer. During the conference, presentations about adapting the Exercises to confront societal issues and making them accessible to people across faith traditions sparked that spirit of attentive awareness. Rev. Brian McDermott, S.J., special assistant to the president of Georgetown University, offered a reflection titled “America’s Original Sin of Racism and the Spiritual Exercises.” In it, he described a weeklong group retreat that emerged through communal discernment in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. Through seven iterations of this adaptation of the Spiritual Exercises, more than 100 participants in the D.C. area have examined racism and white privilege through prayer, honest conversation, and vulnerability. “God is in love with us, not because of who we are but because of who and what God is,” said Fr. McDermott. Only by asking for the grace to experience that love at the outset of the retreat, he said, are participants

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able to develop the spirit of trust “that allows them to be appropriately vulnerable and honest with one another.” Rev. Kevin O’Brien, S.J., founding vice provost and executive director of Fairfield Bellarmine, and Erin Cline, PhD, professor of interreligious studies and dialogue at Georgetown, co-presented a keynote on how the Spiritual Exercises might be shared with people of non-Christian faith traditions. Noting that 500 years ago, St. Ignatius instructed spiritual directors to respond to the circumstances, abilities, and needs of the person before them, Fr. O’Brien emphasized that adaptation has always been part of the Ignatian tradition. “Freedom is the central grace of the Exercises,” he said. “For me, everything revolves around that grace of freedom.” Dr. Cline proposed adding a “religious tradition layer” that meets retreatants where they are, without removing the distinctly Christian character of the Exercises. She suggested directors might draw upon stories, images, or contemplative practices from a retreatant’s own tradition as bridges to unfamiliar elements of the Exercises. “This above : Conference attendees posed for

a group photo after Mass with Bishop Frank J. Caggiano.

left: Rev. Denis Donoghue, S.J., and Marcy Haley hosted the first national conference of its kind from June 13 to 15. right: The community of spiritual

directors shared insights and formed lasting bonds.

is a layer of adaptation that would allow for additions or amendments,” said Dr. Cline, “without removing entire elements or figures.” The goal, she and Fr. O’Brien stressed, is neither conversion nor a generic spirituality, but an encounter in which a director relinquishes control and allows God to work within the retreatant’s own religious experience.

ONTRITION, for directors of the Spiritual Exercises, is not self-reproach but an honest and humble awareness of the ways in which the director can get in the way of God’s work. Recognizing personal biases, acknowledging limitations, pursuing continued learning, seeking supervision, and responding to evolving pastoral needs are all essential ways in which spiritual directors must continue to grow. Cultivating the humility to step aside and, as Ignatius taught, “to allow the Creator to deal directly with the creature,” does not mean the spiritual director is unchanged by the encounter. In the conference’s final keynote, Damian Zynda, PhD, who serves in executive Ignatian formation for the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus, reflected on the reciprocal transformation that occurs when accompanying others through the Spiritual Exercises. “When we enter into the direction relationship, we do not stand outside it as a detached technician,” Dr. Zynda said. “Rather, we enter as a whole person—with our history, our prayers, our biases, our loves—and this

affects us at every level of consciousness. Ignatius understood intuitively that the instrument of direction is not a method, but a person.” By resisting the impulse to control another person’s encounter with God and instead remaining fully present to it, she noted, spiritual directors deepen their own relationship with God. In this sense, the humility required to “get out of the way” becomes its own path of transformation.

OPE is how St. Ignatius concludes the Examen prayer and the note upon which the conference ended. “My hope,” said Fr. Donoghue, “is that attendees carried home with them these questions: How do we, as a community, keep inviting people not only into the Exercises, but to become spiritual directors? How do we keep our community unfolding, moving forward?” As the group gathered one final time to share the convictions they would carry forward, common themes emerged: to trust God more deeply, to remain attentive to their own ongoing evolution, and to find new ways to share the Spiritual Exercises with people of different generations, backgrounds, and faith traditions. The spiritual directors left with new friendships and bonds, fresh insights, and shared resources. Most of all, they departed campus with the assurance that they are not undertaking this ministry alone but as part of a vast network of practitioners learning from, F praying for, and encouraging one another. l

The Examen is a reflective prayer practice developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola that invites people to review their day, recognize God’s presence, and discern how they are being called to grow. During the conference, many attendees prayed “to find God in all things” along Fairfield University’s unique outdoor Walking Examen prayer route.

“THE EXAMEN” THANKSGIVING Lord, I realize that all, even myself, is a gift from you. Today, for what things am I most grateful? ILLUMINATION Lord, open my eyes and ears to be more honest with myself. Today, what do I really want for myself? EXAMINATION Lord, show me what has been happening to me and in me this day. Today, in what ways have I experienced your love? CONTRITION Lord, I am still learning to grow in your love. Today, what choices have been inadequate responses to your love? HOPE Lord, let me look with longing toward the future. Today, how will I let you lead me to a brighter tomorrow?

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ADVANCING EXCELLENCE 26 fallll 2026 2026 || FFaaiirrffiieelldd U Unniivveerrssiittyy M Maaggaazziinnee 26 fa

DISTINCTIVE GRADUATE PROGRAMS ARE EXTENDING FAIRFIELD’S TRADITION OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE TO WORKING PROFESSIONALS, RESEARCHERS, AND LEADERS ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF DISCIPLINES. by B rad T homas

raduate education at Fairfield has entered a new era. Once known primarily for its undergraduate experience, the University has expanded its portfolio of master’s and doctoral programs and has emerged as a premier destination for graduate research, leadership development, and professional growth. The work of alumni such as Nicole Dana ’22, MPH’25 and Dario Shore EdD’25—whose graduate research has been downloaded thousands of times around the world—illustrates the strength and growing reach of advanced scholarship at Fairfield. Class of 2022 communication major Nicole Dana was mere months into a marketing specialist role when she decided to pivot toward a career in public health. That decision led her to the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies’ online Master of Public Health (MPH) program, where she developed expertise through interdisciplinary research and hands-on practice. Today, the double Fairfield alumna works as a healthcare marketing project coordinator at NYU Langone Health in Manhattan. Dana’s master’s thesis, which explores the topic of food additive safety, has been downloaded more than 2,000 times across 63 countries. A former middle school teacher, Dario Shore now works as a district representative for Local 2 of the American Federation of Teachers, the New York City teacher’s union, serving and supporting 56 Bronx High Schools. In 2022, he enrolled in Fairfield’s low-residency Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership program. Three years later, Dr. Shore successfully defended his dissertation, which

examines barriers to effective collaboration in special education programming. His dissertation has been downloaded more than 2,000 times across 91 countries.

n the past decade, graduate enrollment at Fairfield has increased dramatically. The number of master’s students has grown by 21 percent, while the number of doctoral students has grown by 84 percent. That growth stems from an intentional strategy by University President Mark R. Nemec, PhD, and Provost Christine Siegel, PhD, to innovatively serve diverse audiences. “We started with our mission,” said Walter Rankin, PhD, vice provost of graduate, continuing, and professional studies, “and then we thoughtfully scaled our graduate programs to meet the needs of people and communities while also preserving our commitment to excellence.” Since 2017, Dr. Rankin has worked with faculty and leaders across the University to expand its graduate catalog and enrollment. During his tenure, Fairfield has added ten master’s and four doctoral degree programs, upping the total number of graduate programs to 50. One significant achievement within this period of growth was the introduction of research doctorates. The University’s first two doctoral programs were practice doctorates—Fairfield Egan’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program and Doctor of Clinical Nutrition (DCN) program—which are grounded in licensed clinical practice and require capstone projects focused on direct-patient and population-level care. By contrast, a research doctorate investigates a specific problem of practice and requires an

Nicole Dana ’22, MPH’25

“We are sending into the world graduates with master’s and doctoral degrees who are equipped to think critically, to conduct applied research, and to translate theory into practice.” W alte r R an ki n , P h D Vice Provost of Graduate, Continuing, and Professional Studies

academic dissertation. Both include rigorous coursework. Fairfield’s newest research doctorates include the Charles F. Dolan School of Business’s Doctor of Business Administration, Fairfield Egan’s Doctor of Public Health, and the EdD in Educational Leadership. These additions, alongside growth across all graduate programs, have increased the number of advanced degrees conferred each year by 69 percent. Moreover, within the last year alone, the published theses and dissertations of Fairfield’s graduate alumni have been downloaded more

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than 11,000 times across 147 countries. “We are sending into the world graduates with master’s and doctoral degrees who are equipped to think critically, to conduct applied research, and to translate theory into practice,” Dr. Rankin said. “That’s real impact, especially when multiplied by hundreds to thousands of graduate alumni across the nation and world.”

he flexibility of the MPH program allowed Dana to pursue her graduate degree while working full-time. She appreciated this flexibility and the supportive, collaborative learning community faculty created within the program’s online environment. “All of the professors incorporated group projects, which created opportunities for my cohort to connect and learn from each other,” Dana said. “We grew to value our diverse perspectives while bonding over topics close to our hearts. These moments cultivated deeper relationships.” Dr. Shore’s experience was equally positive. Having dedicated his professional life to those who live and work in underserved communities, he valued Fairfield’s mission and the program’s emphasis on social justice.

“Every course, every reading, every paper assignment was anchored in a commitment to the common good,” he said. “That focus not only fulfilled my expectations for the program but also has shaped how I approach my work today.” Dana and Dr. Shore’s experiences as graduate students are the result of thoughtfully designed curricula and effective pedagogy. They reflect the University’s commitment to delivering the same highquality Fairfield education at every level. Although the graduate learning environment differs from the undergraduate experience, the standard of excellence remains the same. “We can have the same learning outcomes for face-to-face and asynchronous online classes, but we’re going to get to those in very different ways,” said Jay Rozgonyi, co-director of the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) and an instructor of film, television, and media arts. “We work with our faculty to play to the strengths and minimize the weaknesses of each modality.” The CAE has supported innovation and scholarship in teaching and learning across the University since 2003. Through learning communities, workshops, events, and consultations, its team of teaching professionals helps faculty members design engaging courses and assignments and integrate new learning technologies. “Ignatian pedagogy drives everything we do,” Rozgonyi said. “That paradigm teaches us to appreciate each person’s individual experiences and strengths and to empower students to create knowledge together. The CAE has developed techniques and curated technologies that help build community and facilitate collaboration in our graduate programs.” By approaching graduate education as an extension of its mission, the University is expanding its reach and furthering the academic excellence and close connections that define a Fairfield education. The result is a growing network of graduate alumni who lead with expertise and purpose, advance their professions, and make an impact in F their communities and around the world. l To learn more about Fairfield University’s 50 master’s and doctoral programs, visit fairfield.edu/GradDegrees.

Dario Shore EdD’25 28

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BRIDGING GENERATIONS: EMILY OTT DBA’26 Even before Emily Ott DBA’26 defended her doctoral dissertation, her research was sparking conversation, earning her an interview on Connecticut Public Radio. What began as a personal effort to better understand generational dynamics in her own workplace led her to a largely unexplored area of research: the professional relationships between Millennial managers and Gen Z employees. Today, Dr. Ott has established herself as an expert in this space, advancing an innovative dyadic leadership framework known as Guided Stewardship. A project manager for Norwalk-based CieTrade, Dr. Ott enrolled in the parttime Executive Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business to expand her business knowledge, strengthen her leadership skills, and help guide her organization’s expansion. The program exceeded her expectations, yielding benefits both personal and professional. Her research into the professional relationships between Millennial managers and Gen Z employees has transformed her own management style, creating a more productive and meaningful work experience for her team. “Guided Stewardship encourages managers and employers to invest in each other at a personal level,” she explained. “By deepening relationships and strengthening collaboration, it helps advance organizational goals such as innovation, productivity, and retention.” Dr. Ott has also built lasting relationships with Fairfield faculty and her classmates in the inaugural DBA cohort—a valuable network that continues to open doors as she shares her scholarship and F pursues new opportunities for impact. l

Grants&Gifts

A Selection of Grants and Gifts Received from Private and Public Foundations, and Corporations

Charles F. Dolan School of Business William Vasquez Mazariegos, PhD, professor of economics, and Robert Nazarian, PhD, associate professor of physics, were awarded $146,273 from Connecticut Sea Grant (UConn) with funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for their research project,

“Experiential Information Effects of Augmented Reality in Stated Preference Surveys: A Case of Coastal Inundation in Connecticut State Parks.” This study will provide timely and salient information for designing and implementing policies and management strategies to guarantee sustainable access to coastal tourism and recreational services for Connecticut residents in a context of coastal inundation. The Bank of America Foundation provided a generous $25,000 grant in support of the Dean’s Strategic Initiatives Fund, professional development, and the Academic and Career Development Center’s career fair.

Funding from the Bank of America Foundation will help support professional development and career fairs sponsored by the Academic and Career Development Center.

older adults in the greater Bridgeport area. Nursing students have the opportunity to participate as health educators and students from the Modern Languages program can serve as interpreters.

Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health School of Studies Engineering and The Paul L. Jones Trust Fund continues Computing its critical support for nursing student scholarships with a $40,000 grant. Jessica Alicea, PhD, professor of nursing, has been awarded $12,402 from the Southwestern CT Agency on Aging and Independent Living. Federal funding

is provided through the Older Americans Act under the Department of Health and Human Services for Matter of Balance, a fall prevention training program for

Engineering student Michaela Nanna ’26, with support from her faculty advisor, Naser Haghbin, PhD, was awarded a $9,000 grant from the NASA CT Space Grant Consortium for her project “Vision-Based Stage and Conformance Verification for Modular Truss Assembly.”

John Charles Meditz College of Arts and Sciences Zhanar Berikkyzy, PhD, associate professor of mathematics, received a $36,840 award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for a workshop on Anti-Ramsey Theory to be held in June 2027 at Carnegie Mellon University. Coorganizers for this conference include faculty from Carnegie Mellon and Wabash College. The Teagle Foundation has awarded a $25,000 planning grant to the Humanities Institute to develop “transformative text” gateway courses for first-year students as they move through the humanities requirements of the core curriculum at Fairfield University. These revelatory courses will

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An anonymous $240,000 donation was made in support of the School of Education and Human Development’s Teacher Residency Program.

expose students to the great conversation of human civilization and will provide students with transformative intellectual experiences. Frances Forrest, PhD, associate professor of anthropology, received a second grant from the Leakey Foundation to continue her research, “Late Pliocene Carcass Processing at Area 117,” in the Koobi Fora Formation in northern Kenya. The $16,859 grant allows Dr. Forrest to generate new data on late Pliocene hominin carnivory in collaboration with Kenyan researchers and institutions, strengthening existing partnerships in East Africa. Michelle Leigh Farrell, PhD, professor of modern languages and literatures, has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to support her research on Cuban independent filmmaking from the newest facets of the diaspora as well as her work on videographic scholarship, while continuing to examine the field of film distribution studies. She will conduct a teaching/research project at the Universidad Carlos III in Madrid, Spain, over five months in early 2027. Shannon Harding, PhD, professor and outgoing chair of the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award for a research/teaching project in Galway, Ireland in early 2027. The project builds on a longstanding partnership with the University of Galway and will investigate how social isolation during adolescence affects brain development and behavior using rodent models. Students enrolled in the course will measure anxietyand depressive-like behaviors and changes in neurotransmitter signaling.

Bennett Center for Judaic Studies The Adolph and Ruth Schnurmacher Foundation has awarded a generous $40,000 grant in support of programming, research, and staffing at the Bennett Center. 30

School of Education and Human Development An anonymous foundation has awarded a very generous $240,000 grant to support the Teacher Residency Program, which is designed to prepare highly effective, reflective, and equity-minded educators through an immersive, clinically rich experience that integrates theory, practice, and sustained mentorship. The aim is to strengthen teacher readiness, improve retention in high-need districts, and cultivate educators who are familiar with and responsive to the communities they serve.

Fairfield Bellarmine The PwC Foundation awarded a second Reimagine Grant of $25,000 for a project to reimagine career services at Fairfield Bellarmine, with the goal of increasing student preparedness for professional environments and expanding access to employer engagement and workplace experiences. This program will also strengthen mentorship as a core component of career development with Fairfield Bellarmine students. The IMA Foundation continues its support of Fairfield Bellarmine students with a $10,000 grant for scholarships.

The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts The New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) continues its support of the Quick Center with two new grants in the 202627 season. A $9,000 Crossroads grant will fund presentations by the Limón Dance Company:

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a reinterpretation of Limon’s Mazurkas under the direction of Puleio and a new work from choreographer Akram Khan inspired by Limon’s critically acclaimed The Moor’s Pavane. An additional $8,500 NEFA Crossroads grant will allow the Quick Center to feature Sunny Jain and his work, Love Force. Music will meet storytelling, as Jain takes audiences on a deeply personal journey that questions hierarchical systems, religion, and traditions, reflecting on the multiple identities so many immigrant families confront in the process of staying connected to the past and imagining new futures.

Fairfield University Art Museum The Robert Lehman Foundation continues its support of museum programming with a generous grant of $7,500 to support five Edwin L. Weisl Jr. Lectureships in Art History during the 2026-27 academic year.

Additional Support for the Benefit of Fairfield University Students The Allstate Foundation has awarded $10,000 to Campus Ministry to support F student leadership programming. l

Alumni NOTES 1960

’64 | J. Thomas Mettling has continued to work in his profession well beyond retirement. Having owned a real estate and development company in Connecticut for 55 years, he recently brokered the sale of 1,000 acres to the State of Connecticut through its Open Space Acquisition program. This brings his total with the State Parks and Forests to 2,200 acres—all of which are to be enjoyed by the public in perpetuity. ’67 | Dennis Gorsuch is a permanent deacon at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Folsom, Calif. He has just self-published his first book, entitled Begin With A Prayer, which is a prayerful approach to finding the career and way of life that are right for you. He credits his wife of 32 years, Jo, for her support and encouragement in completing this project. ’68 | Robert Berchem received the 2026 Walter Camp Champion of Community Award from the Walter Camp Football Foundation. The annual award reflects the values that Walter Camp championed throughout his life—leadership, integrity, selflessness, teamwork, and service to others. It recognizes individuals who have achieved distinction in business, public service, or private life while making meaningful contributions to their communities and charitable causes. A member of the Fairfield University Board of Trustees from 1990-96, he is the founder of the law firm Berchem Moses PC. Bill Coffin received the Joseph L. Hernandez lifetime achievement award at the NARME (National Alliance for Relationship and Marriage Education) Summit in Denver, Colo., this past July, for his passion, leadership, and commitment to fostering education for healthy marriage, responsible fatherhood, and strong families.

1990

S H A R E YO U R N E W S

Dozens of fellow Stags celebrated on Bellarmine Lawn at the wedding of Grace DiB i leo M c Nam e e ’22 an d Michae l Mahon ey M c Nam e e ’22 on May 23, 2026.

1970 ’75 | Thomas “Oakie” O’Connor recently self-published a book called Island in the Sun, in which he reflects on the shift from a structured career to a life guided by choice rather than obligation. Oakie became a member of the Fairfield University Rugby Club in 1971. After graduating in ’75, he spent more than 40 years in the leather goods and apparel industry before becoming Fairfield’s first director of rugby in 2019. He retired in 2022 grateful for the chance to begin another meaningful chapter.

1980 ’82 | Keith Lindenburg has recently self-published his debut

suspense novel, Deadly Melody, set in Newport, R.I., during the vibrant music and nightlife scene of the early 1980s. Devoted to the sound of vinyl, the author maintains a robust collection of LPs and 45s that span decades. Writing Deadly Melody inspired him to reconnect with his college and post-college DJ-ing roots, returning to the turntables and mixing tunes once again in retirement. Lindenburg earned his first bylines as a magazine journalist before spending the remainder of his professional career in corporate communications and public relations. He currently lives in the South Carolina Lowcountry with his partner, Alice, and their two doodles. Deadly Melody is available on Amazon. ’85 | Susan (Truss) Seabrooks successfully defended her doctoral dissertation, “Silent Voices: Perspectives on Holistic School Safety,” and has been conferred the degree of doctor of public health (DrPH) from the Medical College of Wisconsin.

’93 | Stephen Shannon, JD, was selected to serve as chief judge of the Fairfax Circuit Court, effective July 1, 2026. The Fairfax Circuit Court is the largest trial court of general jurisdiction in Virginia and handles major civil cases, felony criminal cases, family matters, and appeals from the General District and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts. Shannon serves as a judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit of Virginia and as a distinguished adjunct professor of law at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School. He earned his juris doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1999. ’96 | Melissa (Masikiewicz) Ezarik is currently an account director at EducationDynamics, after a 25-year career in K-12 and higher education journalism. In the company’s reputation services division, Ezarik partners with college and university communications and marketing teams to amplify their institutional brands via strategic communications and media relations consulting, training, and support. ’98 | Sarah (Redman) Stone was elected to a three-year term on the Manchester Essex Regional School Committee in Massachusetts. ’99 | Fernando Muniz was appointed executive director of Operation Hope of Fairfield, a local non-profit organization addressing hunger and homelessness throughout Fairfield County. Muniz previously served as CEO of Community Solutions, Inc., and as deputy commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. Bradley Tarr is entering his second year as executive assistant to the academic team and campus operations

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Alumni NOTES

REUNION WEEKEND

Classes of 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017, and 2022 coordinator at Maryvale Preparatory School, a Catholic, independent school for girls in grades 6 through 12 located in Lutherville, Md.

2010

’10 | Sarah Stempien was awarded the 2026 Helen Meenan Nurse of the Year Award at Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, Conn. ’13 | Meghan (Patenaude) Bauer serves as White House Cabinet Secretary and Assistant to the President. She recently met with Pope Leo XIV in Rome to discuss Catholicism and raising children in America. ’14 | Victoria Dolloff has launched a new semi-custom wedding stationery line as an extension of her existing creative direction and design business. A studio arts major, Dolloff’s hand-painted wedding invitation designs are available at shop.victoriadolloff.com. Loan Le, MFA’17, a senior editor at Simon & Schuster, edited and published Angel Down by Dan Kraus, which recently won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. ’16 | Christopher Van Akin, MD, graduated from UConn School of Medicine in 2020. He completed his anesthesiology residency at UConn in 2025 and his fellowship in cardiothoracic anesthesiology in 2026. Dr. Van Akin will now begin his career as a practicing cardiothoracic anesthesiologist at Integrated Anesthesia Associates in Hartford, Conn. He would like to thank all of the amazing faculty members of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, especially Dr. Miecznikowski, Dr. O’Connell, Dr. Weddle, Dr. Kubasik, Dr. Harper-Leatherman, and Dr. Church for providing tremendous 32

support and advice during his premed journey at Fairfield.

Save the Date: June 11-13, 2027!

’18 | Stephen Grillo has joined Weber Gallagher as an associate in the general liability practice group, based in the New York City office.

Visit the following site for more information: fairfield.edu/reunion

Libby Harris-Jones, CNP, received her master’s degree from Georgetown and recently joined the Sentara Crozet Family Medicine practice in Crozet, Va., as a family nurse practitioner.

2020

’25 | Joey Nizzardo completed the 20 Bridges Swim Around Manhattan on June 15 with a time of 6:10.17, placing him 11th ever in the history of recorded swims since 1915. The 28.5-mile (45.9-kilometer) swim around Manhattan Island is a full loop, traditionally completed in a counterclockwise direction, and is part of the famed Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, together with the English Channel (between England and France) and Catalina Channel (in California).

Marriages Robert Neagle ’00 and Ashley Smith – June 6, 2026 Kristin Visco ’09 and Michael Redmond – Oct. 11, 2025 Michael Verrusio ’09 and Nicole Hannalla – May 8, 2026 John Mikaelian ’10 and Danielle Jathas – June 19, 2026 Grace (Tiezzi) ’13 and Michael Brickley ’13 – May 16, 2026 Kathryn (Talamelli) ’17, MS’18 and Brendan Moynihan ’17 – Oct. 4, 2025 Lindsay DeMunno ’18 and Drew Blake ’18 – May 30, 2025

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Jessica (Ling) ’18 and Carl Geiger – April 26, 2025 Arianna May ’18 and Michael Minicozzi ’18 – May 16, 2026 Michaela Conlon ’19 and Collin Hayes ’18 – June 6, 2026 Chelsea Salvatore ’19 and Joan Iezin ’17 – June 20, 2026 Elise Sullivan ’19 and Tyler Moragas ’19 – May 1, 2026 Amanda Blair ’20 and Alex Hartzell ’20 – June 27, 2026 Katherine Patton ’20 and Jacob Hodson – July 10, 2026 Stefania Vendrella ’20, MA’21 and James Stacy MS’24 – June 20, 2026

Grace (McNulty) Berardino ’18 and John Berardino – son, Leo, June 8, 2026

In Memoriam Robert B. Taylor III ’52 – June 28, 2026 Richard B. Haux ’54, MA’57 – May 8, 2026 Robert V. Chiarenzelli ’56 – March 25, 2026 Harold R. Connelly Jr. ’58 – May 17, 2026 Philip J. Guerin ’59 – May 3, 2026 Paul J. Marinaccio ’59 – May 10, 2026

Rachel Barr ’21 and Samuel Dorman ’21 – July 11, 2026

George J. McGauley Jr. ’59 – April 11, 2026

Alaina Moger ’21, MS’22 and Jack Leonard ’21, MS’22 – Aug. 2, 2025

Louis M. Nagy ’59 – Feb. 26, 2026

Grace DiBileo McNamee ’22 and Michael Mahoney McNamee ’22 – May 23, 2026

Births Stephanie Lewia ’16 and Michael Kowalski ’16 – son, Leo Janusz, May 26, 2026 Adriana (Carino) ’17 and David DeLeo ’17, MS’18 – son, George, Dec. 28, 2025 Lauren and Robert (Logan) Hertlein ’17 – son, Lincoln, May 26, 2026 Jennifer (Egan) ’18 and Nicholas DeBiase ’18, MS’19 – son, Matteo John, April 1, 2026

Edward V. Wachowski Sr. ’59 – June 24, 2026 Nicholas F. Bauer Sr. ’60 – May 12, 2026 William E. O’Brien ’60 – April 27, 2026 Michael J. Patkoske ’60, MA’63 – March 23, 2026 Robert A. Brady ’61 – April 26, 2026 Edward J. Kane ’61, MA’67 – March 21, 2026 Richard B. Medve ’61 – May 11, 2026 Gerald R. O’Keeffe ’61 – May 24, 2026 Ralph G. Okenquist ’61 – April 3, 2026

Fran R eed ’86, P’23 Rooted in Stag Country by M i k ay l a h G r a n t

or F ran R e e d ’86, P’23, who grew up in West Haven, Conn., choosing a college for his undergraduate studies was surprisingly simple. A single visit to Fairfield University sparked an immediate feeling of belonging. It wasn’t just Fairfield’s beautiful campus but the people and the sense of possibility that gave him a comforting certainty that Fairfield was the right place for him. Decades later, that instinct makes all the more sense. Reed sees that the roots he put down as an undergraduate extended far beyond his first four years on campus. They shaped his career, family, friendships, and a path of purpose that has now led him back to Fairfield, where he teaches finance in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business and is studying toward his doctoral degree.

“I was this kid who didn’t really know what life had in front of me. I came out of Fairfield with a great education, friends for life, and a job on Wall Street, living and working in New York City. That was a big deal.” “It’s serendipitous,” Reed said of his full-circle Fairfield journey. “It’s hard to put it into words. I couldn’t have scripted this.” As an undergraduate marketing major, Reed cultivated relationships within the Fairfield community that became the foundation of his college experience. He credits the connections he formed with classmates, professors, and mentors for helping him

The Reed family: (l-r) sons Alexis de la Rosa and Jack Reed, Jack’s fiancée Sarah Carter MA’20, Fran Reed ’86, P’23, wife Teri Reed, and daughter Anna Reed ’23. grow both in and beyond the classroom. Hired through on-campus recruiting, Reed began his Wall Street career at Chase Manhattan Bank (now JPMorgan Chase). The experience furthered his interest in banking, leading him to pursue an MBA with a concentration in finance at Fordham University and setting him on a professional journey that would span nearly four decades. He has held leadership positions at top financial institutions, including Lehman Brothers, UBS, and most recently Wells Fargo, where he served as a managing director until 2024. “Fairfield changed my life,” he said. “I was this kid who didn’t really know what life had in front of me. I came out of Fairfield with a great education, friends for life, and a job on Wall Street, living and working in New York City. That was a big deal.” Reed first returned to campus part-time as an adjunct professor of finance in 2021. After concluding his Wall Street career in 2024, he expanded his teaching responsibilities as a full-time visiting assistant professor. He continues to teach and prepare the next generation of finance leaders in his current role as a professor of the practice in finance. His approach to teaching is anchored in the Jesuit tradition of forming the whole person. “Ignatian pedagogy is our heritage. It’s who we are as an institution,” he said. With this in mind, Reed is intentional about getting to know his students early in the semester—their goals, strengths, aspirations, and needs—so he can better understand how to support each student’s individual growth and success. He sees his role not simply as delivering course material but as supporting students as they discover their own paths.

Reed’s students recognized his commitment to them this past spring when members of Fairfield’s international business honor society, Beta Gamma Sigma, presented him with their Teacher of the Year Award. “I was completely shocked by this award,” said Reed. “These students represent the very best and brightest of Fairfield Dolan, whom I’ve had the great honor of teaching and advising.” I n 2024, R e e d r e t u r n e d to t h e classroom as a student himself, enrolling in Fairfield Dolan’s Executive Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) program. While the rigorous doctoral program presents academic challenges, Reed has found that the cohort model provides him with peers who are motivating, engaging, and supportive. The experience has felt like a continuation of the vital support and connection that first took root in his undergraduate years. Fairfield has also been an important part of Reed’s personal story. In addition to the lifelong friendships he formed as a student, connections within the Fairfield community played a role in bringing Reed and his wife, Teri, together. The couple settled in New Canaan, Conn., where they raised their three children: Alexis, Jack, and Anna ’23. For Reed, seeing Fairfield become part of Anna’s own journey has been among the highlights of his role as a parent. Over the years, Reed has experienced Fairfield as an undergraduate student, alumnus, parent, professor, and doctoral candidate. Looking back, he knows he was, and remains, exactly where he is meant to F be. “I’m a lifelong Stag,” he said. l

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Alumni NOTES Albert R. Descoteaux ’62 – May 4, 2026

Raymond J. Plouffe ’81 – June 12, 2026

Vincent F. DiBerardino ’62 – May 19, 2026

Michael J. Graf ’82 – June 22, 2026

John A. “Tony” McCall ’62 – March 16, 2026

Ann (Giancaspro) Connelly ’83 – May 19, 2026

Gabriel “Bill” W. Merola Jr. ’62 – April 24, 2026

Lynn (Jeffery) Logemann ’83 – March 27, 2026

Joseph M. Cuzzola ’63 – April 21, 2026

Michele M. (Carpenter) Marckini ’84 – Feb. 17, 2026

Edward M. Lawrence Sr. ’63 – June 20, 2026

Barbara J. McNamara ’86 – Feb. 26, 2026

Matthew R. Dwyer Jr. ’64 – June 24, 2026

Mark F. Leonard ’88 – April 13, 2026

Orest J. Fiume ’64 – May 5, 2026

Gillian (Geerlings) Brown ’89 – May 30, 2026

Wayne A. LaBore ’64 – May 10, 2026

Danielle M. (Kern) Porter ’89 – April 3, 2026

Edward J. Shine ’65, MA’67, CAS’71 – April 21, 2026

Mark T. Stapleton ’91 – June 23, 2026

Thomas E. Finn ’66 – April 2, 2026

Marie Altieri ’97 – May 18, 2026

James M. Tonsmeire Jr. ’66 – April 12, 2026 Albert F. Vestro ’67, MA’74 – March 31, 2026 Paul J. Hughes Jr. ’68, MA’78 – April 11, 2026 Charles B. Livoti ’68 – Dec. 30, 2025 William J. Johnston ’69 – March 29, 2026 Vincent J. Lebonitte Jr. ’70 – April 27, 2026 John J. Sassano ’72 – March 19, 2026 Kevin R. Barry ’74 – Feb. 25, 2026

Christopher M. Elgee ’97 – April 10, 2026 Heather A. (Flynn) Dahlen ’98 – May 6, 2026 Michael L. Dontas ’01 – June 27, 2026 Jeremiah F. Jefferson ’02 – July 6, 2026 Jeffrey J. Holland ’04 – June 12, 2026 Gemma R. Nicoletti ’13 – June 15, 2026 Karolina A. Atsalis ’16 – May 3, 2026 Brittany A. Kritis-Garip ’16 – April 13, 2026

Carol A. DeVitto ’75 – June 2, 2026 Eugene A. Winkler ’76 (BEI) – Feb. 5, 2026 Richard H. Washington Jr. ’78 – March 7, 2026 James M. Goebeler Sr. ’79 – May 25, 2026 34

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S H A R E YO U R N E W S

Lauren and Rob e rt (Logan ) He rtle i n ’17 welcomed their son Lincoln on May 26, 2026. Share your news! Married? Moved? New Job? New Baby? Big News? Share your Class Note or Contact Update by scanning this QR Code to access the form or going to fairfield.edu/AlumniNotes We’d love to hear from you!

Inspire. Advance. Impact. Gifts to the Fairfield Fund inspire innovation for the benefit of our students by advancing academics, financial aid, mental health resources, counseling, career services, and student activities. These contributions make a Fairfield experience meaningful, inclusive, and robust. The Fairfield Fund curates a lasting impact that is felt in every corner of the University. See what your support can make happen this year.

Visit fairfield.edu/give

I lene Bosch MA’89 Finishing What She Started by S ara C olab e lla ’08, MA’11, E d D’26

h i s past M ay , at ag e 79, Ilene Bosch MA’89 walked across the stage at Fairfield University’s Graduate Commencement ceremony—37 years after earning her master’s degree. It was a celebration she had long regretted missing. “It closed the door that had never fully closed,” Bosch said. “Yes, I finished my degree. I got my diploma. But there was still a little crack that was open. The door now is closed; I’ve gone the whole way.” Bosch started her teaching career in Norwalk, Conn., before stepping away to raise her two daughters. Years later, she resumed her career and worked in a variety of roles, including as a tutor for homebound students and a paraprofessional in the Wilton Public Schools.

“Go for the things in life that you want. Never think doors always close. You can always find a little crack and get through it.” Realizing she needed an advanced degree to continue growing professionally, Bosch enrolled in what is now known as Fairfield University’s School of Education and Human Development (formerly the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions). She balanced her studies while raising her children and working full-time. “The thought of going back to school was overwhelming,” she said. “I hadn’t been in school for a long time, and I had a family. But I knew if I wanted to continue teaching,

I had to do it.” Fairfield’s weekend-format courses were helpful. Bosch often attended classes on Friday evenings and throughout the weekend while her husband cared for their daughters at home. After completing her degree in 1989, Bosch chose to skip Commencement, caught up in the demands of work and family life. “At the time, I told myself it wasn’t that important,” she said. “I had the degree, and that was enough.” But over the years, she often told her family that not participating in graduation was one of her biggest regrets. This past spring, her daughter Melissa decided to change that. On Mother’s Day, Bosch opened a gift box from her daughter and discovered a cap, gown, and hood for Fairfield’s 2026 Graduate Commencement ceremony. Without telling her mother, Melissa had contacted Fairfield University, located her records from nearly four decades earlier, and arranged for Bosch to participate in the ceremony. Along with the regalia, Melissa included a heartfelt letter explaining why she wanted her mother to finally receive the recognition she deserved. “You have always been the model mom,” she wrote. “Most of the time you prefer to stand in the shadows and let those around you shine. This gift is to let you know that we see you and appreciate all your efforts.” “I was totally dumbfounded,” Bosch said. “When I read the note and saw the cap and gown, it was a wonderful feeling.” On Commencement Day, Bosch felt nervous and unsure of what to expect. Those feelings quickly faded once the ceremony began. “When my name was called, it was overwhelming,” she said. “I was recognized for what I did and the sacrifices I made to accomplish it.” Perhaps even more meaningful was

Ilene Bosch MA’89 walked at Commencement 37 years after earning her degree. sharing the experience with her family. Her children and grandchildren attended the ceremony, cheering her on as she crossed the stage. One granddaughter even decorated her graduation cap. “It was wonderful to have them there,” Bosch said. “Their pride was very evident. It meant so much to me.” The experience also reinforced a value Bosch has carried throughout her life: the importance of lifelong learning. She credits that mindset to advice she received from her great-grandmother as a child. “I asked her how she got to be so old,” Bosch shared. “She told me, ‘If you learn something every day, you’ll be as old as I am.’ I’ve never forgotten that.” Even in retirement, Bosch continues to take classes simply for the joy of learning. For her, education is not confined to a degree program or a career path; it is a lifelong pursuit. “Learning never ends,” she said. “You’ve never learned enough.” Looking back now, Bosch hopes her story sends a message to future generations, especially her grandchildren. “Go for the things in life that you want,” she said. “Never think doors always close. You can always find a little crack and get F through it.” l

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Alumni NOTES G R A D U AT E S C H O O L S Jennie (Barbuto) Cuilwik MA’77 is a volunteer with Visiting Nurse Service and Hospice of Suffolk in Northport, N.Y. She recently started a lunch group called Loss and Now Found. Frank Kirby MA’16 made his literary debut at the tender age of 71, after careers as a chief financial officer and high school English teacher. Michaela, published in Sept. 2026 by Tivoli Books, is a beautifully rendered multigenerational saga about an Irish-American family and the shadow of an untimely death. Kirby’s first novel is available on Amazon. Loan Le ’14, MFA’17, a senior editor at Simon & Schuster, edited and published Angel Down by Dan Kraus, which recently won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

Marriages Kathryn (Talamelli) ’17, MS’18 and Brendan Moynihan ’17 – Oct. 4, 2025 Stefania Vendrella ’20, MA’21 and James Stacy MS’24 – June 20, 2026 Alaina Moger ’21, MS’22 and Jack Leonard ’21, MS’22 – Aug. 2, 2025

Births Adriana (Carino) ’17 and David DeLeo ’17, MS’18 – son, George, Dec. 28, 2025 Jennifer (Egan) ’18 and Nicholas DeBiase ’18, MS’19 – son, Matteo John, April 1, 2026

In Memoriam Richard B. Haux ’54, MA’57 – May 8, 2026 June Mitchell MA’60 – May 2, 2026 Mary B. (Carley) Morris MA’61 – May 29, 2026 Michael J. Patkoske ’60, MA’63 – March 23, 2026 Leonard J. Rutkosky MA’65 – June 6, 2026 Edward J. Kane ’61, MA’67 – March 21, 2026 Concetta M. Petrillo CAS’67 – May 31, 2026 Edward J. Shine ’65, MA’67, CAS’71 – April 21, 2026 Frank M. Pinto CAS’70 – April 14, 2026

Fairfield University Alumni Association fairfield.edu/alumni | 203-254-4280 Email us at alumni@fairfield.edu Alumni & Family Weekend FRI., OCT. 23 – SUN., OCT. 25

TUES., OCT. 20 | 7:30 P.M.

National Theatre Live Les Liaisons Dangereuses TUES., OCT. 13 | 7 P.M.

National Theatre Live The Misanthrope

Quick Center for the Arts

Ain Gordon and Josh Quillen Relics and Their Humans

quickcenter.com | 203-254-4010 Follow us! @FairfieldQuick Cirque Alfonse La Noce d’Alfonse

MON., NOV. 9 | 7 P.M.

FRI., NOV. 13 | 7:30 P.M. SAT., NOV. 14 | 2 P.M.

Compagnie Hervé KOUBI Sol Invictus WED., NOV. 18 | 7:30 P.M.

SUN., SEPT. 27 | 4 P.M.

Why Not Theatre What You Won’t Do For Love MON., SEPT. 28 | 7 P.M. WED., SEPT. 30 | 7 P.M.

Sr. Amelia Lamendola, S.C., MA’73 – June 2, 2026 Albert F. Vestro ’67, MA’74 – March 31, 2026 Joyce (Ancavage) Yarnot MA’74 – April 7, 2026 Sr. Joanna M. Paolella, A.S.C.J., MA’75 – May 30, 2026 Joan M. (Aurilio) Caliendo MA’78 – May 30, 2026 Deborah (Gross) Green CAS’78 – April 24, 2026 Paul J. Hughes Jr. ’68, MA’78 – April 11, 2026 Diana (Davis) Lane MA’81 – May 18, 2026 Carolyn L. (Cunningham) Bruno CAS’87 – June 21, 2026 Barrie (Brett) Gonzalez CAS’07 – June 20, 2026

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Presented by the Office of Mission & Ministry Robert Cardinal McElroy

For more information, visit fairfield.edu/AFW

John C. Dolan MA’72 – June 23, 2026

Justin J. Kruger MA’09 – April 30, 2026 36

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Cirque Alfonse

The Met: Live in HD Così fan tutte (Mozart) SAT., OCT. 3 | 1 P.M. (LIVE) NOON PRE-SCREENING TALK

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING CAMPUS EVENTS

Macbeth (Verdi) SAT., OCT. 17 | 1 P.M. (LIVE) NOON PRE-SCREENING TALK

Twenty Years of the Met in Cinemas: An Anniversary Celebration SUN., NOV. 8 | 1 P.M. (ENCORE)

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns) MON., DEC. 7 | 1 P.M. (ENCORE) NOON PRE-SCREENING TALK

The LaCroix Music Series Mariachi Herencia de México La Nueva Generación FRI., OCT. 16 | 8 P.M.

Castle of our Skins Sacred Transcendence SUN., OCT. 18 | 3 P.M.

Cameron Carpenter The General (Clyde Buckman, Buster Keaton – 1926) FRI., OCT. 23 | 7:30 P.M.

Philip I. Eliasoph Open VISIONS Forum

Sunny Jain Love Force

Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt

THURS., NOV. 5 | 7:30 P.M.

Arthur C. Brooks

Mark O’Connor’s An Appalachian Christmas Featuring Maggie O’Connor

TUES., SEPT. 29 | 7:30 P.M.

SUN., DEC . 6 | 3 P.M.

THURS., SEPT. 10 | 7:30 P.M.

Fairfield University Theatre Program

Arthur C. Brooks Kwame Anthony Appiah, PhD TUES., OCT. 6 | 7:30 P.M.

Molly Jong-Fast and Guy Benson WED., OCT. 21 | 7:30 P.M.

Philip I. Eliasoph Open VISIONS Forum: Espresso

Holiday by Philip Barry WED., NOV. 4 – SAT., NOV. 7

Victoria Milstein, She Wouldn’t Take Off Her Boots, 2023, bronze. Greensboro, NC

7:30 P.M. SUN., NOV. 8 | 2 P.M.

Bennett Center for Judaic Studies

Fairfield University Art Museum

Fairfield University Glee Club

fairfield.edu/bennett

Alumni & Family Weekend Concert

Sari Siegel, PhD

fairfield.edu/museum | 203-254-4046 Email us at museum@fairfield.edu

TUES., SEPT. 22 | 5:30 P.M.

SUN., OCT. 25 | 12:30 P.M.

Gavriel Rosenfeld, PhD & Yaron Ayalon, PhD

A Feast of Carols FRI., DEC . 4 | 7:30 P.M.

Center for Catholic Studies

TUES., OCT. 6 | 7 P.M.

Aaron Rock-Singer, PhD & Cara Rock-Singer, PhD THURS., OCT. 22 | 5:30 P.M.

Marc Dollinger, PhD

fairfield.edu/cs

THURS., NOV. 12 | 7:30 P.M.

Kate Belli, PhD

Nichole Flores, PhD

Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, PhD

WED., SEPT. 23 | 7:30 P.M.

WED., OCT. 7 | 5 P.M.

Lucy Hallman Russell

Sohrab Ahmari, JD

MON., NOV. 2 | 7:30 P.M.

WED., NOV. 11 | 7 P.M.

THURS., NOV. 19 | 7:30 P.M.

She Wouldn’t Take Off Her Boots SEPT. 11 – ONWARD

Sited between the Dolan School of Business and Bellarmine Pond Hieroglyphs to Hype: The Modern Afterlife of Ancient Egypt SEPT. 18 – DEC . 12

Bellarmine Hall Galleries James Welling: Cento SEPT. 25 – DEC . 12

Walsh Gallery

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DURING THE WEEKEND OF JUNE 5 – 7, OVER 1,400 ALUMNI AND GUESTS CAME TO CAMPUS FOR REUNION 2026.

REUNION

2026

une 5-7 marked a Reunion Weekend that will be remembered for a lifetime. Records were broken as the Class of 1976 celebrated the largest 50th Reunion in Fairfield history and more than 1,400 alumni and guests representing ten classes returned to campus. These classes had an abbreviated Reunion in 2021 due to the pandemic, so they were excited to return to the classic celebration for which Fairfield is known. On Friday evening, private events were held on campus for the 5th and 50th Reunion classes. Members of the Class of 2021 hung around after their event for an NBA Finals watch party in the Oak Room, where they cheered the Knicks to victory. The Class of 2001 continued the tradition of kicking off 25th Reunion festivities with a party at the Seagrape, while the rest of the classes enjoyed a beautiful night at Elicit Brewing Company in Fairfield. Saturday morning saw the Class of 1976 inducted into the Golden Stags at a special brunch with University President Mark R. Nemec, PhD. Classmate and University Trustee Mary (Ryan) Cunningham served as the emcee for the event. StagMates Susan (Tomasulo ’74) and John Walker ’75 led the Golden Stags induction ceremony. Meanwhile, the 5th to 45th classes enjoyed the Taste of Fairfield, complete with food trucks and local restaurants, face painting and a balloon artist for the littlest Stags, and musical entertainment by alumni band St. Hubbins. That evening, alumni and their guests gathered in Egan Chapel for the traditional Reunion Mass, at which deceased members of those Reunion classes were remembered in the Prayers

Everyone loves a photo op on Bellarmine Lawn!

The Class of 1991 came out for one of the largest 35th Reunion celebrations in Fairfield history.

“Stags Up” from the Class of 2021.

of the Faithful and in the Mass program. The Class of 2001 then assembled on the side terrace of Bellarmine Hall for a class photo and 25th Reunion toast given by classmate Kevin Hayes. The final and largest event of the weekend was the Dinner Dance on Bellarmine Lawn. While the dinner began under sunny skies, University staff and local public safety officials were closely monitoring an approaching storm with threats of lightning and high winds, ultimately prompting

an evacuation of the tent for the first time in Reunion Weekend history. Though the decision was not an easy one, the safety of all attendees was the top priority, and the announcement was met in true Stag fashion: with patience, understanding, and good humor. Once the storm had passed, guests were invited back into the tent, where they quickly filled the dance floor and picked up right where they had left off. It was an F evening that will not soon be forgotten! l

Photos courtesy of Kristie Kistner Photography and Patrick Sikes Photography. To view all of the photo albums from the weekend, visit fairfield.edu/reunionphotos.

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Lucas pauses for a photo with 25th Reunion alumnae Jaime (Cree) Slocum, Colleen (Ahern) Currier, Tiffany (Parrella) Crooker, and Erin (Donnelly) Catapano.

The 25th Reunion Class of 2001 posed together following a toast by classmate Kevin Hayes.

Members of the Class of 2006 enjoyed ’42 Brew, a special partnership with Elicit Brewing Co.

Class of 1991 alumnae posed for the camera.

Class of 2011 alumni enjoy their 15th Reunion at the Taste of Fairfield.

Bob Cypher, Barbara Cunningham, Mary (Ryan) Cunningham, Kevin Cunningham, Nicholas Defonte, and Pam (Spaulding) Baxley posed at the 50th Reunion Brunch.

A Welcome Dinner at Mahoney Arena kicked off the 50th Reunion festivities.

Alumnae from the Class of 1976 were overjoyed to reconnect with one another.

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Donor PROFILE Donald an d Kare n Wi lson P’26 Finding Their Fairfield

hen Don and Karen Wilson first visited Fairfield University Don and Karen Wilson, P’26, on a visit to Galway, Ireland. with their son, Brady ’26, they expected a typical hour-long tour. Instead, they spent nearly three hours exploring “Every one of these professors… campus, meeting faculty, and discovering that everyone on the faculty is truly Fairfield was where Brady belonged. Interested invested in your child’s well-being, in biology, Brady was drawn to the University’s in their development and their emphasis on undergraduate research—an experience that would become one of the most education, and it’s very visible.” meaningful parts of his time at Fairfield. “It was the tour that sold him,” Don said. “Seeing the labs and learning that students could begin research right away—it really made an impression.” That first visit set the tone for a lasting relationship with the University. While still living in Santa Clara, Calif., Don and Karen’s entry into the Fairfield community started with an out-of-region parent reception during Brady’s first-year move-in. They relocated to Connecticut while their son was still a student and their involvement grew to include attending performances at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, Parents Leadership Council (PLC) events, and other gatherings. “It wasn’t solely based on the fact that our son went there,” Karen said. “We developed our own lives at the University.” The Wilsons’ commitment deepened over time. During the 40

past four years, they’ve been active PLC members, they’ve served as Parent Ambassadors, and they volunteered on the Fairfield Awards Dinner committee. “The Parents Leadership Council was a great vehicle for us to get involved,” Karen said. What strengthened their connection was the caliber of the people they met, from the President to faculty and staff. “Every one of these professors… everyone on the faculty is truly invested in your child’s wellbeing, in their development and their education,” said Karen, “and it’s very visible.” Fairfield’s mission-driven culture, their son’s passion for biology research, and their own University connections—Karen’s father was a 1968 engineering graduate, and Don is a Class of ’86 Fairfield Prep alumnus— shaped where they’ve directed

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their time and generosity. Don, who recently retired as senior director of multiport design engineering at Intuitive, found his way into the School of Engineering and Computing (SEC) when his company began sponsoring senior design projects. He now serves on the SEC Advisory Board, mentors students, and is excited for the school’s future. “Working on these projects with the students, I like doing that more than my job, honestly,” he said. Karen, an educator with 26 years in teaching, instructional coaching, and STEM integration, is now a member of the advisory board for the School of Education and Human Development. Their generosity has followed their passions: the Wilsons made a major gift in support of student research in the Biology Department of the John Charles

Meditz College of Arts and Sciences and a planned gift benefiting biology research and the School of Education and Human Development. They’ve also established the Wilson Family Research Scholars Fund. They are members of the Executive PLC and the Bellarmine Society, extending their support across three of Fairfield’s five schools. Don and Karen feel that their involvement is its own reward. “As we were attending these experiences, it became clear to us that there was more that we wanted to do to support the school and support students,” Karen said. For Don, the payoff is personal. “I like being able to go to sleep at night thinking that we’re actually making a difference, even if it’s just in one person’s life,” he said.

Fairfield Parents Make a Difference WAYS FOR PARENTS TO PARTICIPATE: The Parents Fund allows parents to contribute a gift of any size to urgent priorities, to ensure students’ access to holistic academic programming, student life, financial aid, and health and wellness services, all rooted in Jesuit values.

Catie; Molly; Tyla and Sean, P’29; Maddie ’29; and Emma Quirk

Parent participation—through the Parents Fund, the Parents Leadership Council, and The President’s Circle— plays a critical role in elevating Fairfield experiences for all students. Learn how you can join parents like Sean and Tyla Quirk, P’29 in making a difference at fairfield.edu/parents

Be on the lookout for more details about the Parents & Family Challenge, coming this October!

The Parents Leadership Council (PLC) is a network of generous parents committed to enhancing the University through millions of dollars in support for the Parents Fund, scholarships, athletics, and more. Gifts at the PLC level begin at $5,000 annually, with additional benefits at varying leadership levels. The Executive PLC level begins with an annual gift of $25,000. Members enjoy exclusive opportunities such as signature events with senior leadership and missiondriven programming. The President’s Circle invites parents to make a gift of $1,000 or more each fiscal year to help shape all aspects of our University. The Honor Your Graduate Program is a Fairfield tradition that recognizes your student’s achievements and honors their experiences with a gift of any size or a Capstone Scholarship gift of $10,000 or more. For more information, contact: Office of Parent Engagement & Philanthropy (203) 254-4000 ext. 2106 parents@fairfield.edu F a i r f i e l d U n i v e r s i t y M a g a z i n e | fa l l 202 6 iii

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Hartford, CT

1073 North Benson Road Fairfield, Connecticut 06824-5195

Permit No. 1382

Address Service Requested

MAKE AN IMPACT: HOST A STAG JOB SHADOW Alumni and parents have a unique opportunity to shape the future of today’s Stags. By hosting a student—either in person or virtually—you can provide invaluable insight into your industry, career path, and daily work life. It’s a great way to give back, build your brand, and connect with top Fairfield talent. Visit fairfield.edu/jobshadow to learn more and watch for registration emails this fall. iv

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